FF: CD/CP: Ventura summary, Havasu preview

PAVEMENT FOCUSES AT HAVASU 95 SATURDAY; HOWELL LATEST NEW CALIFORNIA FOCUS RACE WINNER

Bobby Michnowicz took advantage of disappointing nights for the top two drivers in the California Ford Focus Dirt Midget Car Series point standings Saturday at Ventura (Calif.) Raceway, finishing second behind another first time winner.

Dennis Howell of Rancho Palos Verdes, led all 17 laps of the race on the 1/5-mile track, holding off Michnowicz for his first series victory. Quintin Crye, Michael Faccinto and Jenna Frazier finished out the Top 5.

Point leader Keith Janca saw his championship hopes all but slip away after he finished 25th, the last car credited with a finish. He is now 35 points behind Michnowicz, third in the standings.

Chris Veach, who entered the race second in points, isn't out of it yet, but is now 17 points behind Michnowicz after finishing 10th in the race. Michnowicz, Veach and Janca have one more race -- Oct. 21 at Ventura -- to decide the title.

Until then, the California Ford Focus Pavement Midget Car Series will be in action. Competitors from that series will make the division's initial appearance in Arizona, when they visit Havasu 95 Speedway Saturday in Lake Havasu City. Tim Skoglund leads Faccinto by 58 points heading into the event.

-credit: usac